I'm not quite sure what route to take on my next adventure, an all-in-one (AIO) or a sump? having been in the hobby for about 7+ years I have a good understanding of what I want. Currently, I'm leaning towards a 35-gallon AIO softie tank. I am aware of the downsides, such as less water volume and limited space for filtration, but I’d love to hear from anyone with long-term experience with AIO aquariums. What are your thoughts? Additionally, if anyone can share the pros and cons of both setups, that might sway my decision. I'm all ears.
I’ve been reefing a long time and have had tanks big and small. I currently have 3 tanks, and all of them are AIOs.
Sumps give you more space, a little more water volume, real estate for equipment and all that. I just like AIOs, especially the smaller ones, because some filter floss or poret foam, media, and carbon in a media caddy is just so simple. And as someone who no longer cares about a lot of gadgets and gear, all I need is a protein skimmer that fits and I’m good to go. For my smaller ones, the small icecap fits great and works well, and there’s some other nano skimmers out there.